Celebrating Queen Victoria - Sponsor of the Industrial Revolution!

Of course, the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II is uppermost in peoples’ minds as the Queen hosts a nice lunch for 26 Kings and Queens from all over the world. Unlikely to be burgers, even though it is Victoria Day in Canada (not Quebec) and that is what many of us will be having. Victoria Day weekend is a time to relax with a few beers (or wine) and contemplate all that came before, and so much during the reign of Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria set up a very impressive British Empire – lots of pink on the map. Global leadership was more aggressive at that time, with business partners including the army and missionaries.

Looking back it may seem that Britain had an unfair advantage – we may have taken a lot, but we were also giving back. Our host countries welcomed us, once we were established, and welcomed the leadership we provided and learning and education opportunity to adopt new ways and be a little more like Queen Victoria and her subjects! They would have been impressed to know that Queen Victoria was not only an international leader and trainer – although she didn’t travel much – but also the leader of business as we know it today.

You could say that Queen Victoria was the mother of Human Resources. At the same time new cities were being formed to house factories, Queen Victoria was promoting rules to make it as nice as possible for workers, children in particular. Business owners, for example, who liked putting children up chimneys, were strongly rebuked – limited at least.

Queen Victoria helped people not to be as lonely. In contrast to lonely fields and meadows, the new cities provided factories and little houses so there were always people around to chat to and talk to over the fence – if you had a fence.

Queen Victoria also made shopping easier. Many factories paid employees in “company money/tokens” that could only be used in nice company shops. Imagine the time saved and the benefits! Leave work and do all your shopping before leaving the factory premises. People worked very long hours, but by shopping on site, could still get home in time to catch the best programs – except there was no TV or radio at that time.

Queen Victoria also promoted health of the body and the mind. Health of the body was mainly to cover up as much as possible (particularly women) and to understand that bare breasted was not a good idea - that modesty promoted the healthy minds of men who had undeniable urges, unlike women. Surprisingly, topless became quite popular a hundred years or so later. Queen Victoria would not have liked it (Albert maybe) but maybe some of our earlier Empire subjects would have commented, “See, we were right!” It all depends on how well the missionaries did their job!

We have so much to thank Queen Victoria for, including a long weekend in Canada. We wish Queen Elizabeth a wonderful Diamond Jubilee. Queen Victoria may have been the sponsor of the Industrial Revolution, but Queen Elizabeth is the sponsor of the London Olympics. I am sorry I am no longer in London to enjoy the Olympics and even more sorry I do not have a property in London to rent out at an exorbitant price to visitors, while I am at the lake enjoying burgers and beer.

Happy Victoria Day everyone! However you celebrate it – even if you don’t!